Oerlikon offers solutions for manmade fibers production

China is the largest producer of manmade fibers. The amount of fibers produced by the People’s Republic grew by 60 % between 2008 and 2012, and now totals 36.1 million tons. This represents a world-market share of 65 %. Oerlikon has been located in China since 1984 and has played a major role in the expansion of the manmade fiber industry there.

Today, the Manmade Fibers Segment works in an international network with production sites in Europe and Asia. All locations have been upgraded through investments made as part of the Operation Excellence Program to ensure that they can remain globally competitive for many years to come.

“Within the context of an efficient balance between opportunities in Asia and Europe, this will enable us to exploit market opportunities and simultaneously fuel the development of innovative technology. As a result, we are well-equipped to meet the demands of the world market,” Kross says.

Manmade fibers will remain a growth market for years to come

Demand for textile products will continue to rise as a result of population growth and increased consumption in emerging countries. Market researchers project that 92.6 million tons of textile fibers will be produced in 2015 and that the share of manmade fibers in this total will amount to 66 %.

Many producers will also need to invest in more modern, energy-saving systems and processes like the Winder Integrated Godet Solution (WINGS) offered by Oerlikon. Furthermore, innovations in the area of new applications are boosting demand for fibers.

For a long time now, manmade fibers have been used not only in clothing, but also in curtains, carpets, airbags and seat belts. One particularly growth-rich area is the construction industry, where nonwovens are being used to insulate and cover roof structures or to make geotextiles for landscaping and road construction.

Two traditionally strong brands covering the entire value chain

The two brands included in the Manmade Fibers Segment – Oerlikon Barmag and Oerlikon Neumag – are pioneers in the area of manmade fiber production and are the market leaders in filament spinning systems, texturing machines and systems used to produce BCF carpet yarns, synthetic staple fibers and nonwovens.

Producers can be offered complete solutions covering all steps, from the polymer-melt production to finished fibers, yarns and nonwovens. The individual production steps and system components have been optimally aligned with one another. This ensures the best product quality and a high level of efficiency in production, extending from the melt to the yarn.

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